Negligence is the downfall of most things, anything neglected will start to deteriorate over time, and it's not an uncommon sight to see a neglected home or yard which are being reclaimed by nature. But the most common thing you'll see on the road is a neglected car, one that hasn't had its air filter changed in ages hasn't been washed since the last rainfall and is barely functional. The process of regularly maintaining your car isn't all that difficult, by doing a few check ups and simply cleaning it every now and again.
If you don't want to end up being that person that neglects their property into disrepair you can do a few things by monthly to keep your vehicle as new as the day you bought it. This applies to all vehicles even your off-road weekend warrior needs some basic maintenance and cleaning so get out the hose and sponge as the first way to maintain it.
The second is to keep an eye on the parts that are known for degrading quickly, things such as spark plug wipers and air filters need to be changed every now and again (meaning every year or so). Your headlights are also fairly vulnerable, the UV rays from the sun can make the headlights and taillights cloudy and deteriorated, so investing in good headlight protectors might be a good idea, they not only protect from UV rays but also any chipping or scratching that might occur while you drive. While this isn't a priority it does add to the car's value since nobody like cloudy headlights that barely work.
As for oil, you'll need to check it on a monthly basis to make sure that it doesn't need changing. If it does need changing then you can DIY it, all you need to do is check what type of oil your car uses since its different for most cars. You then need to drain it, and once this is done you can add the new oil just remember to put as much is required which is usually in the car's manual, simple as that.
Lastly, you should check your wipers if you're going to replace the plug and get new filters and headlight protectors why not also get some spare windscreen wipers while you're at it. Having spares when you can is always a plus since you'll be ready for anything even on a rainy day unless some more important part of the engine has failed and needs a professional mechanic to fix it. But if you drive your vehicle carefully and maintain it properly the likelihood of it malfunctioning is lowered to a significant extent.
